October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV), “domestic violence is the willful intimidation, physical assault, battery, sexual assault, and/or other abusive behavior as part of a systematic pattern of power and control perpetrated by one intimate partner against another.”

Domestic violence is not always physical. Abusive tendencies include, but are not limited to:

  • Telling the victim they can never do anything right
  • Showing jealousy when the victim spends time with other people
  • Accusing the victim of cheating
  • Dictating how the victim dresses, where they go, who they see
  • Controlling every penny spent in the household
  • Cruelty to animals

For more examples of abusive tendencies, click here.

If you think you are a victim of domestic violence, or know someone who is, call the anonymous, confidential, 24/7 hotline at 1-800-799-7233 (SAFE) or 1-800-787-3224 (TTY).

For more information on getting help, visit the NCADV website http://www.ncadv.org/learn-more/get-help. They have resources for:

  • Planning Ahead
  • Personalized Safety Plans
  • Tips for Accessing Resources
  • Financial Education
  • Cosmetic Support

If you are ever in immediate danger, call 9-1-1.

 

Abby Orscheln – Safety and Security Intern